Using a Bayesian integrated population model built over 40y of data and environmental covariates, our team discovered that precipitation contributed significantly to variation in population growth rate in the European pied flycatcher. doi.org/10.1002/eap.... @esajournals.bsky.social
In a new paper, we found that provisioning rate and biomass in Little Owls increased with the area of high-quality habitats, and that such habitats also acted as a buffer against adverse weather. doi.org/10.1002/ece3... @ecol-evol.bsky.social @matthiastschumi.bsky.social
Looking for a job at @vogelwarte.bsky.social as a full-stack developer? Please, have a look here: my.jobalino.ch/job/en/9ae61...
#software #development for #bird #monitoring #ringing & #citizenscience
We are hiring! 🙂 We are looking for a research assistant to help analysing movement and demographic data of little owls! 🦉 @vogelwarte.bsky.social #ornithology
tinyurl.com/9k6rj6rx
The effects on migratory birds of the seasonal transition between wet and dry in West Africa are not well understood. Using a long-term ringing dateset from Nigeria, we determine whetherbody reserves vary as a funtion of local rainfall and NDVI. doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
To evaluate the impact of the influenza virus (HPAIV) in the Peregrine Falcon, Integrated Population Modelling was used. The analyses revealed drastic declines in adult survival, suggesting a shift in HPAIV dynamics compared to the previous epizootics. Read more: doi.org/10.1111/1365...
For birds migrating at night, the consequences of artificial light can be fatal. @barbarahelm.bsky.social @baptischmi.bsky.social and co-authors found evidence for attraction towards light pollution of sea-crossing birds using ornithological radars along the Croatian coast. doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
Using passive acoustic monitoring, our team and our parners in Africa found that species richness and occurence probability is hihgher in grazing exclusion - a measure to restore degraded habitats - compared to control sites. Read more here doi.org/10.1002/eap....
🚨 PhD offer (please share)
Fascinated by bird migration and movement ecology? 🦜🌍 Join us at @vogelwarte.bsky.social to study annual cycle energetics with multi-sensor loggers in multiple species
Deadline: 20 Feb 2026
Starting: June 2026
Supervision: Martins Briedis & me
Info: tinyurl.com/2dbv9nzh
Happy to share our new paper published in @cp-iscience.bsky.social We deployed 300+ multi-sensor loggers across 17 species to investigate how different species adapt their flight strategies when crossing deserts and marine areas during migration. tinyurl.com/2c8y8xvf #ornithology #birds
Swiss Breeding Bird Monitoring dataset is now openly accessible! The team from @vogelwarte.bsky.social made the long-term dataset of the Swiss CBM program (“Monitoring Häufige Brutvögel”, MHB) freely available under CC-BY 4.0 licence. esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
NEW JOB in #ornithology with @vogelwarte.bsky.social to unravel the demographic drivers of population change in Alpine #swifts in #Switzerland: buff.ly/crV1rT8
House Martins are declining in Switzerland. To help them, our team conducted a study and recommend installing artificial nests withing 500m of occupied sites and using playback of conspecific vocalizations. doi.org/10.1111/csp2...
On 1 January 2026, Stephanie Michler and Hubert Schürmann will take over the conservation department at the Swiss Ornithological Institute and represent it as part of the institute's directorate. They succeed Peter Knaus, who leaves the Institute after 25 years.
www.vogelwarte.ch/en/protection/
Winter means.. communal roosts! 🦅🐦🦜
But why do birds form such roosts? In red kites, young single males are the most frequent visitors. Once paired, birds roost more solitarily, often together as a pair.
📢 Now online: tinyurl.tools/98e9279e
@animalecology.bsky.social
@vogelwarte.bsky.social
Can high biodiversity and agricultural productivity be reconciled? A community model of the bird–arthropod food web in African cocoa agroforestry indicates that low-intensity farming practices favour certain bird species and enhance the abundance of potential pollinators. doi.org/10.1002/eap....
New study on factors influencing collisions of Red Kite Milvus milvus with wind turbines: findings suggest that turbines with rotor diameters <90m and clearances > 60m may pose a lower relative threat to Red Kites. Read more here: doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
A study by the WSL and @vogelwarte.bsky.social using long-term data has shown that bark beetles are good for woodpeckers🪲🐦: woodpeckers use the dead wood produced by bark beetle infestations as shelter and nesting sites🪵. WSL-News: www.wsl.ch/en/news/why-...
#Biodiversity #Woodpecker #DeadWood
Our team analysed the correlation of N deposition with numbers of territories of 112 Swiss breeding birds species. Insectivous and herbivorous species were more negatively associated with N deposistion, as well as ground-nesting species. Read more here: doi.org/10.1111/cobi...
Very happy to finally have this out! 🎉 A review of the diets of European insectivorous birds. Huge thanks to Klaus Birkhofer, @johanekroos.bsky.social, @henrikgsmith.bsky.social and all co-authors! 🙏 #ornithology @biologylu.bsky.social @vogelwarte.bsky.social @helsinki.fi doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
Fig. 1 from the article: Estimates of vegetation density from LiDAR for presences points and absences points at 25 m (lines).
Fig. 2 from the article: (A) Response curves of univariate models (4000 times each) for the strata 0–1 m in red, 1–2 m in violet, 2–3 m in blue, 3–4 m in green, 4–5 m in yellow. (B) Response curve of univariate models for the canopy cover.
NEW PAPER: LiDAR-based habitat mapping shows that nightingales prefer dense mid-level vegetation and tall canopies. The study showcases how remote sensing can inform habitat restoration and biodiversity conservation.
➡️ vist.ly/4bjs6
#ornithology #birds @vogelwarte.bsky.social 🪶
🚨New paper out
Our study reveals how barn owl parents coordinate nightly chick feeding. Females step up when males underperform & pairs that meet more often at the nest share work more equally boosting chick survival🦉
doi.org/10.1016/j.is...
@unil.bsky.social @vogelwarte.bsky.social #movementecology
Exciting science news on plumage colouration and genetic variation from our colleagues!
1/9 New in @science.org www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado8005
How does genetic architecture constrain evolutionary trajectories? To address this question, we inferred the genetic architecture of convergent plumage coloration and its evolutionary history in wheatears.
🚨 Master’s project!
Curious how birds find their way? 🧭🐦
Analyze decades of ringing data to study abnormal migratory routes and uncover what these deviations can reveal about the mechanisms guiding birds on their journeys. Drop me an email for details! #ornithology
www.vogelwarte.ch/de/wir/mitar...
More Skylark science: a study with @agroscope.bsky.social tested whether Skylark strips in intensive winter cereal fields improved habitat quality for the species. Short answer: yes! The odds for nest being successful were 12.5 times that of control fields. doi.org/10.1111/csp2...
Skylark, Getty Images
In Europe, the Skylark Alauda arvensis has shown some sever declines. Populations are more stable in the Swiss Alps. To better inform conservation management, our team studied the limiting factors for these populations. Read more here: doi.org/10.1111/ibi....
An adult red kite feeding its nestlings, illustrating active parental care during the breeding season. Photo: Camera trap, Swiss Ornithological Institute.
Fig. 4 from the article: Capture probability in relation to the time since detection of the decoy predator for red kite breeding pairs with different brood sizes.
NEW PAPER: Parental anti-predator investment in red kites shifts with food conditions, reflecting both offspring vulnerability and reproductive value, with their relative importance changing across nestling age.
➡️ vist.ly/45uxb
#ornithology #birds #RaptorResearch @vogelwarte.bsky.social
#EOU2025 Come and join us for the symposium on the importance of vagrancy in ecology and evolution. Lots of great results in the talks from the different speakers!
LR4 - Friday 22 - 10:30
@alexanderlees.bsky.social @joewynnbirds.bsky.social #ornithology @vogelwarte.bsky.social
Excellent talk from @carladreon.bsky.social @vogelwarte.bsky.social in the life history & development #ornithology plenary @eounion.bsky.social evidencing lay date plasticity in alpine swifts with warming temperatures - a heritable adaptation that boosts individual reproductive success. #EOU2025
